Report: Auto Insurance Rate Hikes on Tap

Insurance companies blame 2011's Tropical Storm Irene, Halloween nor'easter — not Sandy — for highest in nation auto rate increase

New Jersey motorists, who currently pay among the highest rates for auto insurance now, are going to have to dig a bit deeper into their wallets to pay for increases in auto insurance, according to published report this month. Insurers and state regulators are saying Hurricane Sandy, which devastated portions of the state including the Jersey Shore, is not the reason for state approving rate increases for 26 insurers thus far in 2013, according to a NorthJersey.com report. Instead, officials blame the rate increases on losses related to Tropical Storm Irene and the Halloween nor’easter from two years ago, medical costs that continue to rise, reinsurance expenses and dim forecasts of investment income, the report said. Allstate, New Jersey …

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HankyCraft

9:05 am on Monday, May 20, 2013

I meant to say, "Dover / Toms River" Councelman.....sorry...   more ›

Hurricane Sandy

PHOTOS: Demolition of Gee Gee's in Manasquan

Gee Gee's torn down, while Borough Beach Headquarters going up next door

Hurricane Sandy heavily damaged large portions of Manasquan's beachfront, and this week one of the most well-known businesses fell to the wrecking crew. Gee Gee's most damaged portion, its south side, was demolished this week. The northside is being prepared to reopen, selling pizza and other boardwalk food in time for the 2013 season. But the landmark business became a casualty to Hurricane Sandy and was torn into a pile of rubble this week. However, the signs of destruction that is Gee Gee's is being flanked by rebuilding to its north and south. While the building is renovating on the north side, the borough of Manasquan is rebuilding its beach headquarters directly to the south. The beach headquarters is quickly taking shape, with …

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charlie

10:06 am on Saturday, May 18, 2013

Yes, but that earthquake a couple years ago destroyed it. Only building on the east coast impacted. And don't forget the parking lot at Sea Watch is getting top priority for the high priced parking spots.   more ›

Hurricane Sandy

'This Old House' Featuring Hurricane Sandy Project in Manasquan

PBS show also featuring Point Pleasant, Ocean Grove

An eight-episode series of 'This Old House' focuses on several local homes rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy. The PBS' show will first air in October. PBS announced the show worked on an 1880s Shore Cottage in Bay Head, a 1950s Colonial in Point Pleasant, and a prefabricated new house in Manasquan. Side stories will also feature Mantoloking, Long Beach Island, Ocean Grove and other local rebuilding projects along the beach and the bay. Here is the complete announcement from the show producers: Months after Superstorm Sandy devastated shorelines on the East Coast, affected homeowners are still determining how to rebuild in a landscape of provisional FEMA regulations, delayed building permits and continued weather risks. During the …

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Hurricane Sandy

Living in an RV, Family Longs for Recovery

Forced to leave their Sandy-battered home, now living in an RV parked in their driveway.

You can’t even imagine what it’s like to take a shower in your own home, she said while seated at a table that folds up for easy storage. When the new hot water heater was installed in her home and the bathroom made available for showers for the first time in six months, it’s things like that, she said, that make you appreciate what you’ve really got. Jennifer Russell’s life currently is very much about the small victories. Her family gets to eat dinner together every night. She’s been able to reconnect with friends from high school she hasn’t spoken to, in some cases, for more than two decades. And her parents’ home, despite having been gutted is on its way to being rebuilt. She remains hopeful, said her family remains hopeful, even after…

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Hurricane Sandy

Time-Lapse: Manasquan Home's Destruction and Reconstruction

Home part of "This Old House" project

The long-established home improvement show "This Old House" on PBS has chosen several local houses damaged in Hurricane Sandy, undertaking projects there and airing the progress in a special series coming in October. But as work progresses on the homes, "This Old House" is posting live photos of the construction, and has compiled them into a time lapse on its website. One of the homes is a Manasquan prefabricated house, damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The home is seen as it was after the storm, then its demolition, and in May saw pilings for the house raising installed. As the project continues, a calendar of images will mark the progress. To scroll through the time lapse from post-storm to demolition to reconstruction, visit the website for …

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Hurricane Sandy

Contractor Earns Bonus For Completed Belmar Boardwalk

Epic Construction's bonus is $100,000

April 26, the Belmar boardwalk was considered "substantially complete" less than five months after Epic Construction drove the first piling into the Hurricane-Sandy ravaged beachfront. For getting the work done before April 30, the Piscataway contractor earned a bonus written into the project contract: $100,000. Mayor Matt Doherty and council presented Epic Construction workers with a ceremonial check at last night's council meeting, reading a resolution commending their work. Belmar maintains it was the first to start and complete its boardwalk after Hurricane Sandy destroyed so many beachfronts along the Jersey Shore. Epic Construction and the borough were aggressive in getting the work done, Doherty said, noting the first piling kicked …

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